The document summarizes observations from visits to various retail stores, including Walmart, Lowes, Michaels, Tillys, Payless, Sams Club, and Total Wine and More. Key points mentioned include cleanliness, organization, music, customer service, and overall impressions of each store. Crowding and disorganization made navigation difficult at Walmart, while Lowes, Michaels, and Tillys provided positive shopping experiences through convenient parking, upbeat music, cleanliness, and helpful employees.

1. OBSERVATION
LAB
BY BRANDON ZELL
ASU TEM 431

2. WALMART
• Store does not draw me in at all, automatic doors open
and close in front of the store, carts are old and you need
to test them before you pick one. Outside of store smells
like mildew from old plants on sale by front door.
• Isles are extremely crowded. Lots of isles are used for
storage of merchandise. Boxes and pallets are crowded
everywhere which makes it extremely difficult to navigate
the isles. No music playing in the store just static loud PA
annoucements
• Lots of things do not make sense in this store. For one in
the upper right corner of this slide you will see a picture of
storage containers. You are not able to buy any of these
since removing one would result in the collapse of the
others.

3. LOWES
• Lowes is one of my favorite hardware stores. Parking is very
convenient with stalls even facing the front doors for easy
access in and out of the store. The employees are always
proactive about finding you and asking if you need help.
• The music in the store is always upbeat and uplifting which
puts you in a very good mood, and encourages you to stay.
• It is cool inside and the temperature is never and issue.
• One of my biggest pet peeves is when stores allow outside
sales people in to sell their product. I cannot stand to be
asked by random people every isle that I go on if I would like
to buy solar panels for my home. Lowes restricts these people
to only their station that’s setup in front of the store.
• The products are very organized and easy to find on your own
via maps and signs.

4. MICHAELS
• Michaels is the go to craft store in my area. The store is
very clean, easy to get to and always welcoming. The
background music was soft and relaxing. The store
smelled very good with all of the various fake flowers and
scents that they offer, at times it can be a little over
powering.
• I could not really find anything negative about the visit to
this store. Everything was well labeled and organized
• Staff members were easy to spot with their red aprons.
• There were many display setups showcasing products
that were all 70% off.
• Customers are very tactile with the products, and can be
seen browsing and reading into products.

5. TILLYS
• Tillys is a fashionable clothing store that specializes in
clothing for teens and young adults.
• I was welcomed into the store almost immediately and asked
if I needed help finding anything, I said no thanks and the
employee then said okay if you need anything my name is
Jack.
• Customers are encouraged to try on clothes and employees
will even take them from you and put them by a fitting room
for you, they also write your name on the mirror outside the
room with a neon whiteboard marker.
• Very upbeat music is played, often louder than other stores. It
puts you in a very good mood to shop.
• The store is very clean, organized, all clothes are folded, and
makes me feel comfortable to shop.

6. PAYLESS
• Store was very clean displaying their newest products on
a display as you walk into the store. The front door was
open and very welcoming which even had balloons on it.
• The store employee was also welcoming and asked us if
we were looking for any particular type or color.
• Store was organized, there were not clutter or other shoes
blocking the isles, it was well kept up. There was no
music playing which was a little awkward.
• While checking out the clerk notified us of other items on
sale and the history of the product that we were
purchasing, saying how good of a choice it was.

7. SAMS CLUB
• Upon entering the store the welcomer that is supposed to
check your membership was preoccupied speaking with a
customer and did not even acknowledge us.
• There were a lot of free samples being offered, even a new
vending machine that dispenses samples when you scan
your membership card.
• Some displays needed attention and were empty or still
contained pallet material on top of the products.

8. TOTAL WINE AND
MORE
• This store is brand new and you can tell it is in amazing
condition. All of the floors are hard wood
• Products are a little hard to find, since the store offers so
many choices.
• There are tons of options to select while you are waiting to
checkout. Which is a good way to waste your time, since
the lines were very long.
• They gave out free samples of beer and wine to those over
21 years of age.